Exploring Sciforum’s New Features
Sciforum has relaunched with a modern, modular platform that supports conference management at scale. The platform has already hosted more than 1000 events and welcomes submissions and participants from around the world. With a community of more than fifty thousand users, Sciforum continues to strengthen global scientific exchange by offering tools that make academic events easier to organise, manage, and share.
In this article, we explore the new features introduced in the relaunch and explain how they improve accessibility, clarity, and efficiency for organisers and participants. We also look ahead to future developments that will continue to shape Sciforum into a flexible and reliable platform for academic event management.
A platform built for growth
The new version of Sciforum is designed to support conferences of all sizes. It offers a modular structure that allows organisers to select only the tools they need. This approach helps small and mid‑size events manage costs while still benefiting from professional features. Larger events can scale up by adding more modules as needed. The relaunch also sets a foundation for continuous improvement, guided by feedback from the academic community.
Customisable website
One of the most visible changes is the introduction of modular website‑building tools. These tools allow organisers to create event websites without prior technical experience. The templates are easy to adjust, and organisers can change layouts, colours, and content to match their conference's identity. This helps events present a clear and professional image, whether they are small workshops or large international meetings.
The website builder's flexibility also supports different academic disciplines. Organisers can highlight the information that matters most to their community, such as keynote speakers, submission guidelines, or programme details. This ensures that participants can quickly find what they need.
Permanent data hosting
Sciforum now offers permanent hosting for all event data at no extra cost. This includes abstracts, presentations, posters, and other conference outputs. Permanent hosting helps preserve scientific work and ensures that materials remain accessible long after the event ends. It also supports transparency and reproducibility by keeping research available to the wider community.
For organisers, permanent hosting reduces the need to manage external storage or maintain separate archives. For participants, it provides a reliable place to revisit past contributions and share them with colleagues.
Streamlined workflows
The platform’s workflows for submission management, peer review, and registration have been redesigned to be clearer and more efficient. Key improvements include:
- Reduced submission steps for authors, making it easier to upload abstracts or full papers.
- Simplified organiser workflows that reduce time spent on administrative tasks.
- Automated invoicing and flexible ticketing options for paid events.
- Clearer revenue flows that help organisers track finances with confidence.
These changes reduce the likelihood of errors and free organisers to focus on scientific content rather than operational complexity.
Role‑specific dashboards
Sciforum now provides personalised dashboards for organisers, reviewers, and authors. Each user sees only the tools and information relevant to their role. This reduces information overload and makes navigation more intuitive. Reviewers can quickly access assigned submissions, authors can track the status of their work, and organisers can monitor the entire event from a single place.
Competitive pricing
The new pricing structure is designed to support small and mid‑size conferences. Instead of paying for a full platform, organisers can choose only the modules they need. This helps reduce costs and ensures that budgets are used efficiently. It also makes Sciforum more accessible to emerging research groups, early‑career networks, and institutions hosting their first event.
What’s next for Sciforum
Sciforum will continue to expand its capabilities. Planned improvements include stronger communication tools, more advanced programme‑building features, additional payment options, and integrations that support both virtual and hybrid events. A transition to the sciforum.com domain is also planned, which will help unify the platform’s identity and improve visibility.
These developments will be guided by feedback from the academic community. As research communication evolves, Sciforum aims to remain a reliable and adaptable platform that supports scientific exchange across disciplines and regions.
Browse our pricing options or submit a proposal and start organising your event. You can also contact our team at info@sciforum.net for more information.
Digital Tools for Conference Management
Digital tools can streamline conference management and ensure your event runs smoothly. There is a range of tools available depending on your specific needs, so it is important to research carefully. Sciforum is a fully customisable conference management system which can be integrated directly into your workflow.
In this article, we explore what digital tools are and explain why Sciforum can help make your event more credible to researchers.
What are digital tools?
Digital tools provide support systems for organising events. They often provide a central platform for distributing information both internally and externally. This reduces the administrative workload of conference management and keeps everything in one place. More advanced software can automate repetitive tasks, such as sending submission confirmations and deadline notifications. Sciforum can also help simplify the peer review process by matching reviewers to submitted abstracts.
These integrated features allow you to manage the event from start to finish. They speed up the planning process without reducing the quality of the research. Digital scheduling systems can also support smooth conference management, allowing participants to plan their day. This limits the number of questions your team will be asked, fostering a more enjoyable experience for everyone. Furthermore, it gives researchers time to assess networking opportunities and arrange meetings in advance.
Virtual and in-person events can be supported through digital tools. Determine the format of your event before choosing which software you require. Some platforms can host your event virtually, while others provide the tools to streamline the planning process. Sciforum can support the organisation of both in-person and virtual conferences, allowing you to select the format when submitting a proposal.
Ten tips for organising conferences:
Keep these ten tips in mind for effective conference management:
- Define the purpose of the event and who will attend.
- Establish a clear timeline and set achievable milestones.
- Start building the organising committee early to align on goals.
- Set a realistic budget and secure funding opportunities in advance.
- Decide on the format of your event and book a suitable venue.
- Launch the conference website and issue a call for papers with clear criteria.
- Promote your event through various channels and academic networks.
- Open registration early so attendees can start planning.
- Prepare accessible conference packs, badges, and signage.
- Test platform features to check they are working correctly.
By getting ahead of your planning and staying on top of tasks, you have a better chance of running a successful conference. You can also evaluate accessibility criteria early on and ensure your event is inclusive for everyone.
Effective conference management is essential for building long-lasting professional relationships. As your community grows, you will likely have more people who are interested in attending your event. You should keep up to date with trending topics and try to stay relevant in your research field.
Avoiding predatory conferences
Using a designated conference management system helps ensure the legitimacy of your event. It signals to users that it has been organised with close care and attention. Predatory events are the opposite; they deceive visitors by charging high fees whilst having low academic standards. These conferences typically lack a clear focus, with poor website design and a disorganised schedule. They often have generalised research areas, and visitors are unlikely to gain any real academic value from attending.
Fake conferences also have unusually fast acceptance rates and do not list previous publication details on their website. The peer review process often lacks transparency, and there is generally no mention of indexing information. This is usually because the research comes from unreliable sources or is entirely fabricated. Watch out for these signs when attending events, and ensure your own conference is well organised and credible.
Strengthening conference management
Sciforum simplifies the planning process by providing a central platform to display all information related to your event. It seamlessly integrates conference management tools designed to improve efficiency and streamline the peer-review process. The submission workflow is clear, with regular updates and notifications to guide users. The software is easy to use and has reliable features for first-time event organisers, so you don't need to worry.
With flexible payment options, you can also adapt the website to suit your needs. This makes it even more user-friendly and saves you time and money. You won't be required to use unnecessary features, which allows you to become more familiar with the right tools.
If Sciforum is what you're looking for, submit a proposal and begin planning your conference now. If you have any further questions, you can contact our team, and they'll be happy to help.